Obviously they meant New Orleans, but they have Jrue and Tyreke added to Eric Gordon, Anthony Davis, Ryan Anderson ... and are looking for more moves, I wouldn't call them a tank.

For Boston, they could easily make the playoffs: Rondo, Wallace, Green, Avery, Hump, Lee, Sully, etc ... at least on par with other teams that will be fighting for 7-8 seed.

I think the top of the east is: HEAT, Pacers, Nets ... Bulls and Knicks are capable of stumbling a bit ... and then the Raptors are right there, as constructed, to be the best of the rest - or maybe even surpass an injury prone old team like NYK.

New Orleans is not tanking. They traded their 2014 pick (top 5 protected) to Philadelphia for Jrue. They are too strong a team with the roster they have to finish bottom 2 (ensures a top 5 pick). Unless they get destroyed by injuries and make the decision to bottom-out, they are gunning for the playoffs.

For all of the talk from the media that half the teams in the league are going to tank, a lot of teams seem to view this as their chance to make a run at the playoffs.

Right now I think Toronto is closer to bottom three in the east than they are to bottom 3 in the playoffs. Any injury to Gay, or in particular Lowry, would destroy the raptors as constructed. This is the main reason why I personally lean toward desiring a rebuild of sorts.

Detroit added Josh Smith.
Charlotte added Al Jefferson and Cody Zeller.
Cavs looks like a playoff team now.
Pelicans now have Holiday and Tyreke.
Kings got a very good young player in Mclemore. And they have IMO the best C in the game in Cousins.

Right now the teams that i project to battle for the Andrew Wiggins sweepstakes are:

Detroit added Josh Smith.
Charlotte added Al Jefferson and Cody Zeller.
Cavs looks like a playoff team now.
Pelicans now have Holiday and Tyreke.
Kings got a very good young player in Mclemore. And they have IMO the best C in the game in Cousins.

Right now the teams that i project to battle for the Andrew Wiggins sweepstakes are:

1. Phoenix
2. Orlando
3. Philadelphia
4. Boston(if they move Rondo).

I think Utah is one of the 'best' tanking teams, especially considering how strong and improved the Western Conference is. I'd say the 2 worst teams in each conference, to give a bottom 4 overall, are:

I think Utah is one of the 'best' tanking teams, especially considering how strong and improved the Western Conference is. I'd say the 2 worst teams in each conference, to give a bottom 4 overall, are:

- Utah
- Phoenix
- Philly
- Orlando

Utah's a good young team man. Not a playoff team but not top 5-8 bad either.

Kanter
Favors
Rush
Hayward
Burke

Not a bad starting lineup. If Kanter and Favors can elevate their game to the next level. Watch out.

Utah's a good young team man. Not a playoff team but not top 5-8 bad either.

Kanter
Favors
Rush
Hayward
Burke

Not a bad starting lineup. If Kanter and Favors can elevate their game to the next level. Watch out.

I think they'll eventually be a good team, but I think this year is a 100% tank... umm development year for them. With significantly more playing time, I think Kanter and Favors will experience big time growing pains. They also don't have a lot of veteran leadership.

When you look at how strong the west is, I still think Utah will wind up being the 2nd worst team in the conference. I think their trade with GS was a pretty strong sign that they don't intend to win this season.

I hope so. Utahs my favorite Western conference team by far and they'd be completely set if they got Wiggins or Parker

They've certainly done a good job of acquiring/developing some decent young players and gathering extra draft picks. They've also left themselves pretty wide open at the wing position, which the 2014 draft is likely going to be quite deep in. Starting with the way they managed the D.Williams situation a few seasons ago, they've done a great job positioning themsevles to be a strong team over the next 2-6 years, especially in light of them not being a very popular free agent destination. The fact that they did so without getting anything for Jefferson or Millsap is a little mindboggling... they've done well, but I can't help but feel they could have done even better with more effective asset management (at least Millsap).

I'd swap the Warriors and Grizzlies. I think the Grizzlies are a good team who are great at what they do, which is not quote the same thing as being great. Meanwhile, the Warriors just got better all across the board.

I'd swap the Warriors and Grizzlies. I think the Grizzlies are a good team who are great at what they do, which is not quote the same thing as being great. Meanwhile, the Warriors just got better all across the board.

I could easily see my 3 groups switched to 2 groups, with the Warriors moving up (6 great teams) and Nuggets moving down (6 good teams).

I think they'll eventually be a good team, but I think this year is a 100% tank... umm development year for them. With significantly more playing time, I think Kanter and Favors will experience big time growing pains. They also don't have a lot of veteran leadership.

When you look at how strong the west is, I still think Utah will wind up being the 2nd worst team in the conference. I think their trade with GS was a pretty strong sign that they don't intend to win this season.

1 injury away. If either lowry, Valanciunas, or amir gets injured for a significant amount of time we are screwed.
Gray starting, and Acy/novak first big off the bench is not gonna cut it. Julian stone as a starter is not gonna cut it. We have no depth besides the wings. Free agency is not over yet, but i don't see anyone that can be had for 5 mil that could start for 2 weeks. I think Ujiri is gonna decide what we want to do in january. If our record sucks in then, Rudy gay is gone to someone that's sniffing the playoffs.

Anyone think that this upcoming season is going to be the most competitive season in a long time? It seems like a lot of teams have benefited from the development of young talent... The West in particular is crazy.

"We only have one rule on this team. What is that rule? E.L.E. That's right's, E.L.E, and what does E.L.E. stand for? EVERYBODY LOVE EVERYBODY. Right there up on the wall, because this isn't just a basketball team, this is a lifestyle. ~ Jackie Moon